The roseleaf-raspberry or ‘native raspberry’ is a scrambling shrub widespread in rainforest understoreys throughout the Australasian region.
A member of the Rosaceae family, the rose-leaf raspberry boasts attractive white flowers all year round that develop into small, bright-red berries. These edible gems are delicious and tempting to pick, but prickly stems can scratch and irritate skin.
The leaves contain essential oils and are used in tea as a medicinal remedy. Aboriginal people are understood to use raspberry leaf infusions to treat upset stomachs and general illness.
The rose-leaf raspberry grows up to 2m tall, forming large, clumping thickets, often at the edge of the forest. Tangled and prickly, this species provides crucial protection for ground-dwelling species such as whipbirds, bandicoots and potoroos. Studies have also shown that brush turkey chicks, a species you will no doubt see when you visit Mary Cairncross, require the safety of raspberry thickets to evade predators.
The rose-leaf raspberry truly is a super shrub!